Sir Winston Becomes Millionaire in 4-Year-Old Debut

Tracy Farmer's Sir Winston is racing's newest millionaire as he took a step in the right direction Jan. 31 toward a start in the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airlines (G1) at Meydan when he pushed his way to the front to win an allowance optional claiming race at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trainer Mark Casse entered the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) winner into the $81,560 one-turn mile event after scratching from the Jan. 25 Jazil Stakes. His 8-5 morning-line odds floated to 4-1 by the start of the race.

"We were lucky because they had this race in the condition book," Casse said last week. "It's not ideal. It's a little shorter than we would have liked, but I want to run him. I want to get him going. He's got to come around."

Sir Winston broke well, but by the end of the first turn he was content to follow the field from a few lengths back, where he settled with jockey Dylan Davis. As second choice Leitone set fractions of :24.52 and :48.33, Sir Winston remained in last, unhurried. As six furlongs went in 1:13.13, he began to move up along the rail, and coming off the turn he was full of run.

At the top of the stretch, Davis guided Sir Winston to a hole that suddenly became very tight when Roaming Union came in slightly and pushed him up against Brass Compass to his inside. But showing tenacity, Sir Winston pushed through and showed his quick turn of foot to rally past the leaders in the final furlong and win by 2 1/4 lengths. The final time on the fast track was 1:39.15. 

"He ran well. I just tried to get him to finish," Davis said. "He took himself back a little, but he was in good stride and really waiting for me to get on to him. I had to fight a little to get between some horses, and once he got through, he took off. 

"Even galloping out, it didn't feel like he got tired. It was nice."

Musical America, who went off as the 8-5 favorite, got up for second over Leitone by three-quarters of a length.

"I think he exceeded the expectations today," said Casse's assistant Jamie Begg. "When Mark decided to put him in this spot, we just wanted a good effort out of him and for him to show his running style. If we could hit the board and he did it his way, we'd be happy. But this was above expectations, so we are happy. They didn't set a super fast pace early on, so it's not like they collapsed at him. He went and got it. 

"I think Mark was looking towards the Bernardini (Feb. 29 at Aqueduct), but we'll talk to Mr. Farmer and see how he comes out of this race and go from there," Begg said of the colt's next start.

The Dec. 28 Woodchopper Stakes on the turf at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots was the first start since the Belmont for the son of Awesome Again. But after bumping with a rival multiple times early in the race, he finished last of 12. 

He then returned to work Jan. 16 on Belmont Park's training track but pulled a shoe and stepped on it while it was halfway off. Sir Winston was tentatively entered for the Jazil, and though the tender foot had healed, Casse scratched due to weather and track conditions. Friday's win marked the colt's 4-year-old season debut and bumped his earnings to $1,005,773.

Sir Winston is the only Belmont Stakes winner since 2015 to win at 4. He joins Tonalist , Palace Malice , Ruler On Ice, and Drosselmeyer as the only other winners at 4 or older since 2005. Seven Belmont winners since 2005 were retired by 4—Justify , American Pharoah , Union Rags , Creator, Summer Bird, Rags to Riches, and Afleet Alex .